Andrew Smith

ECE 205
Instructor Reitman
August 7, 2014
It is important to note that there are multiple types of family structure, as the pictures on the title slide show. Some of
these structures include a child being raised by the mother and father, a child being raised by a single parent, a child being
raised by homosexual parents, a child being raised by a family member other than parents, such as grandparents, or a child
being raised by adoptive parents. With these family structures and others, child development is impacted in a number of
ways. The importance of family on child development is monumental. In early childhood, it is the context of the majority
of the childs experiences. Family is the setting from which a child learns emotions, behaviors, and day-to-day interactions,
(Groark, McCarthy, & Kirk, 2014, Ch. 2, P. 5, Par. 1).

Siblings, if there are any, also play a large role in the development of a child. Results from a study of 20,000 children
pointed out that children with siblings have better social skills than those without. This is because if a child is a single child,
they may not have as many opportunities for socialization, whereas a child with a sibling will have chances for social
interaction almost every day. With more practice, social skills are able to developed and strengthened. This is one of the
reasons parents like to set up play-dates for their young children. These play-dates give the children more opportunities to
practice their social skills. However, even though children with siblings have been shown to have better social skills when
entering kindergarten, this gap is closed by the time children entered adolescence (Groark, McCarthy, & Kirk, 2014).

Families vary in culture and make-up, but in general, family is the context in which values and norms are provided. It is
where socialization occurs and where behaviors are shaped initially. If children grow up in nurturing, stable
environments that include healthy, secure, and reciprocal relationships, their pathway to adulthood will be easier and
they will experience more successes than those who do not. This early context influences brain structures, behaviors,
learning abilities, and mental and physical health. (Groark, McCarthy, & Kirk, 2014, Ch. 2, P. 5, Par. 3).




With all the different family arrangements, child physical development could be affected in a number of ways.

Children of a single parent might not have the opportunities for play and physical activity that children with two
parents might have. This is because a single parent may have to work long hours so they do not have as much time
with their children. Or the single parent may earn less money which would effect recreational activities such as sports.

Children being raised by grandparents may not have as much physical activity as children being raised by their parents
because depending on how old the grandparents are, they may not be very active or have as much energy to keep up
with the children, which could lead to more sedentary activities.

Children with siblings have more opportunities for physical activity. Kids always rough house with their siblings,
which provides good physical activity and can promote physical development in children.

In a study done comparing family structures and physical health, [u]sing the 2003 National Survey of Childrens
Health [c]hildren in single-mother and grandparent-only families have poorer health than children living with two
biological parents, (Bramlett, & Blumberg, 2007, Abstract).

Family structures could also have an effect on obesity. If the child is raised by a single parent, the parent may not have
the time and energy to cook and make healthy food, and instead could get fast food on the way home from work.
When this happens often, the child may develop poor eating habits and could become obese, which has a negative
effect on physical development.
The family structure that a child is raised in can have many effects on social development.

According to the National Survey of Children's Health, children who live with both biological parents or two
adoptive parents score higher on the social development scale (50.8) than children who live within other family
configurations (48.2), such as with their father only or foster parents.[3] In between are those who live with a
biological parent and a stepparent (48.5) and those who live with single mothers (49.0). (Children's positive social
development and family structure, n.d., Par. 1).


If a child is to develop proper social skills, then the child must
have opportunities to practice those skills. If a child has siblings,
this gives them a great opportunity, but if not, there are other
methods like setting up play-dates for the child or getting them
involved in sports or some sort of club or group like scouting.


Different family structures can also impact child emotional development in a variety of ways.

A child raised in a single family home may spend a great deal of time with a baby-sitter or in a day care. In the findings
of a report obtained from 30 years of research it shows that children who spend lots of time, (30 hours/week) in day
care are more likely to exhibit problematic social behaviors including aggression, conflict, poorer work habits and risk-
taking behaviors throughout childhood and into adolescence, (Erickson, Par. 1).

A child raised in a loving and caring home, with two parents, it doesnt matter if they are cohabiting partners,
homosexual parents, adoptive parents, or birth parents, will have the best chances for proper social development. With
two parents, the parents can split the work, plus if both are working, this provides more financial support which can
help decrease strife and arguments and allow the family to go on fun family outings and vacations, which will
contribute to emotional development. On the other hand, [c]hildren of divorce scored lower than children of intact
families in a variety of areas including: scholastic achievement, conduct, psychological adjustment, self-esteem, social
competence, and relationships with parents. The areas of conduct and father-child relationships were the most affected
by divorce, (Family and adolescent well-being, n.d., Par. 2).

No matter what type of family structure the child is raised in, one thing that will help proper emotional development is
consistency in the family unit. The conclusion from research on the coparenting alliance is that children growing up in
families with greater consistency are more likely to develop security and trust, achieve effective self-regulation, and do
better along academic, emotional and social dimensions than children in families in which parents are less consistent,
(Wise, 2003).


Family structure and family stability both play a role in a childs cognitive development.

Living a single-parent household sometimes means less financial stability and resources. Children from homes that
experience persistent poverty are more likely to have their cognitive development affected than children in better off
homes, according to research undertaken by Professor Ingrid Schoon and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, (Nuffield
Foundation, 2011, Par. 1).

As with emotional development, research indicates that family stability matters more than family structure for cognitive
development. [G]rowing up with a single mother (whether that family structure is stable or unstable over time) seems
to matter more than instability for behavior problems[C]hildren raised by stable single or cohabiting parents are at
less risk than those raised by unstable single or cohabiting parents, (Waldfogel, Craigie, & Brooks-Gunn, 2010, P. 15,
Par. 4).

If the family needs to provide outside childcare because of work or other commitments, day care or in-home care can
contribute to a childs cognitive development. If the parent or parents have more income, they have more options for
child care and the quality of the care. Several studies have found positive associations between child care quality and
childrens cognitive and social competence during the preschool years, (Peisner-Feinberg, 2007, P. 3, Par. 3). If the
day care or childcare provider provide quality care, with play, learning, and other engaging activities, this will benefit
cognitive development.
Family structures are meaningful and relevant to me as a teacher because there are all sorts of family structures and
each one contributes to child development in a different way. Each family structure has its own strengths and weaknesses,
and as a teacher, with the knowledge of the type of family structure my students come from can help guide my instruction.
It will help me to work more effectively with my students so that they are able to achieve more success in school and
develop their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills.

Another way the family structure is meaningful to me as a teacher is that with the knowledge of the different types of
family structures my students come from, adoptive families, homosexual parents, and etcetera, I can bring in stories that
celebrate these types of families, which would help boost my students self-esteem.


Bramlett, M. D., & Blumberg, S. J. (2007, March). Family structure and childrens physical and mental health. Retrieved from
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/26/2/549.full

Children's positive social development and family structure. (n.d.). Retrieved August 7, 2014, from http://marri.us/development-family

Erickson, J. J. (n.d.). The effects of day care on the social-emotional development of children. Retrieved August 7, 2014, from
http://www.familyfacts.org/reports/2/ the-effects-of-day-care-on-the-social-emotional-development-of-children

Family and adolescent well-being. (n.d.). Retrieved August 7, 2014, from http://www.familyfacts.org/ briefs/34/family-and-adolescent-well-being

Groark, C., McCarthy, S. & Kirk, A. (2014). Early child development: From theory to practice. Bridgepoint Education: San Diego, CA.
Nuffield Foundation. (2011, April 21). Childrens cognitive development affected long-term poverty not family instability. Retrieved from
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news/ children%E2%80%99s-cognitive-development-affected-long-term-poverty-not-family-instability

Peisner-Feinberg, E. S. (2007, February). Child care and its impact on young childrens development. Retrieved from
http://www.child encyclopedia.com/documents/Peisner-FeinbergANGxp.pdf

Wise, S. (2003, January). Family structure, child outcomes and environmental mediators: An overview of the development in diverse families
study. Retrieved from http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/ pubs/RP30.html

Waldfogel, J., Craigie, T.-A., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2010). Fragile families and child wellbeing. Retrieved from
http://futureofchildren.org/futureofchildren/publications/docs/20_02_05.pdf